I've noticed that there's a lot more information in the wiki that applies to the accumulation stage than to the withdrawal stage. Some of that because there's been much more study of accumulations issues and strategies, but I'm guessing that a large percent of those of us who have retired already are a distinct minority. This poll is a test of my guess.

Does retired mean that both spouses no longer work for pay? I stopped getting a paycheck years ago, but am I a house-husband, kids' chauffeur, or retired? I think since my wife still gets a paycheck, we're not retired yet, but how do I respond in this poll?

Minot wrote:I've noticed that there's a lot more information in the wiki that applies to the accumulation stage than to the withdrawal stage. Some of that because there's been much more study of accumulations issues and strategies, but I'm guessing that a large percent of those of us who have retired already are a distinct minority...

It could also be that wiki editors create content based their interests.

Speaking as a two-year lurker: Mid thirties, underwater due to a separation, new to financial planning, and now afloat again. I am extremely grateful for the abundance of approachable information on this forum, and the generous people who contribute and maintain it. The experiences shared here from across the life and income spectrum are sobering, heartening, and rewarding. I can only hope this community continues as I move across the poll categories, silently reading for years to come. =) Thanks so much!

I'm semiretired, currently working somewhere in between 1/4 time and 1/2 time. Not sure what to answer. I pretty much set my own schedule, so in a lot of ways I feel retired. I can get into the town hall during business hours. I can bring a book to a doctor's waiting room and not feel stressed if she's running behind schedule. My wife and I are drawing Social Security, and receiving payouts from a fixed annuity. We made the transition from employer health insurance to COBRA to private to Medicare. We are not dealing with the issues of "decumulation"--drawing from our investment portfolio--in fact we're continuing to make modest additions to it.

Since we've been in about that state for several years I guess I'll say "retired less than five years ago."

Newby on deck!! Retired 34 DAYS ago and am enjoying living on _my_ schedule. Want to do some serious Boglehead reading, then have many questions. I thought we were set up pretty good until I started exchanging ideas with a friend.....now, things aren't as clear to me.

Av8remeritus wrote:Newby on deck!! Retired 34 DAYS ago and am enjoying living on _my_ schedule. Want to do some serious Boglehead reading, then have many questions. I thought we were set up pretty good until I started exchanging ideas with a friend.....now, things aren't as clear to me.

Welcome aboard, Av8. If you're like me, you'll find this forum will give you a lot to think about and will probably lead you to make some changes in your portfolio. I'd recommend you take your time before making changes though--or if not, post your proposed changes on the forum first. I didn't do that, and while the changes I made were basically good, I ended up paying more taxes than I would have needed to since I started making changes before I read the tax effiency information. I suspect there are other possible less-than-optimal ways to proceed.

Av8remeritus wrote:Newby on deck!! Retired 34 DAYS ago and am enjoying living on _my_ schedule. Want to do some serious Boglehead reading, then have many questions. I thought we were set up pretty good until I started exchanging ideas with a friend.....now, things aren't as clear to me.

Welcome aboard, Av8. If you're like me, you'll find this forum will give you a lot to think about and will probably lead you to make some changes in your portfolio. I'd recommend you take your time before making changes though--or if not, post your proposed changes on the forum first. I didn't do that, and while the changes I made were basically good, I ended up paying more taxes than I would have needed to since I started making changes before I read the tax effiency information. I suspect there are other possible less-than-optimal ways to proceed.

Thanks, Minot, I appreciate your taking the time to respond....your suggestion essentially IS my issue: to maintain our low seven figure nestegg, while trying to reduce risk, is going to take some strategic moves that will involve the taxman and my intent is to involve him less rather than more. To take full advantage of the advice and guidance that I anticipate from this site, I'm going to read the books, forum, and Wikis, before proceeding.In my initial post, I neglected to say that I retired at 67 and the friend that recommended that I get involved with Bogleheads has been a member for several years and states you guys helped him retire well ahead of me!Av8r